'I can't thank everyone enough': Hunter Jones grateful for support for his family

The Hutchinson and Nickerson communities were united Saturday at Hutchinson High School's Don Michael Field for a field night to support the Jones family. 

Hunter Jones, older brother of Nickerson basketball player Ava Jones, made it out to the event honoring and supporting his family. 

From yard games, including a football toss, cornhole, and a dunk tank, as well as food trucks, a 5K run, and raffles, Hunter Jones was thankful for all the support the county and area has given his family. 

"I can't thank everyone enough," Hunter Jones said, "and I wish I could give a thanks to everyone, but at this point, there's so many people that it's hard. I wish I could thank everyone personally and tell them how much it means to me. It means the world, and I can't imagine going through this alone. I think about that every day. I thank God that I have everyone around me that I do."

Hunter Jones shared a similar point of view as Hutchinson head softball coach Clayton Evans, who was involved in a golf accident last summer that left him with a spinal cord injury. When the field night was put on last summer, around the same time as this year's event, Evans said he wished he could thank and give everyone a hug and was thankful for all the support he received. 

When Jones found out about the story behind the event, he was in awe of the meaning.

"It makes it more special, for sure," he said. "Something like this, someone who's been through not the same but a similar tragedy, to be able to come out the next year and help us out when we're going through the same thing, it's amazing."

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Dalton Estes, a recent Hutchinson graduate, helped put the event into fruition last year with classmate Liliana Wilson. Originally, this summer's field night was going to be a fundraiser for their DECA club. When they heard about the Jones accident, they knew what the field night would go towards.

"Seeing everyone that came out tonight, I'm going to say something I said last year. It makes my heart happy," Estes said. "It's everyone coming together, even though it's not necessarily someone from the Hutch community. Schools you can compare as rivals, but everyone is out here and having a good time and coming together for a good cause." 

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It's been over a month since Ava Jones – an Iowa women's basketball commit – her mother, Amy Jones, and her father, Trey Jones, were injured after being struck by a vehicle in downtown Louisville, Kentucky while in town for a basketball tournament. Trey Jones died a few days later. Amy and Ava Jones have since been going through rehabilitation and therapy, looking to return to Kansas as soon as later this week. 

Hunter Jones, who was not involved in  the accident, has become a spokesperson for the family. From Iowa coaches checking in on Ava and Amy Jones to meeting people at restaurants and places in Louisville, he said it's crazy to see all the good people that have been around to help his family out. 

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"It's amazing. I love every single person that's been able to help. I've been able to build so many relationships with people that I haven't had because of this situation," Hunter Jones said. "I've talked to so many people that I've never really known in my life, and I let them tell stories about my dad and everyone that loves Ava and mom. It's surreal still. It's amazing.

"I can't thank my family and family friends enough. I can't thank my parents enough for having good friends, the friends that they had, and the ones that they have close to them and have been the ones that have been close this whole time and have been helping with this."

Billy Watson is the sports reporter for The Hutchinson News and has been in Kansas since March 2021. To reach out about story ideas, you can send an email to wwatson@gannett.com or send a direct message on Twitter @hutchsports or @billywatson4l.